Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling vs Facilities Managers: $80K vs $107K Median Pay

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling vs Facilities Managers: what changes?

Consider Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling if you want to plan, direct, or coordinate entertainment and recreational activities and operations of a recreational facility, including cruise ships and parks. Consider Facilities Managers if you would rather plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling (less than 5 years) and Facilities Managers (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling and Facilities Managers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

National median pay (2025): $79,520
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Plan, organize, or lead group activities for customers, such as exercise routines, athletic events, or arts and crafts.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 5,100

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling brief

Facilities Managers

National median pay (2025): $106,660
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Monitor the facility to ensure that it remains safe, secure, and well-maintained.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 14,200

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Facilities Managers brief

How the national numbers differ

Facilities Managers has the edge on annual openings

Facilities Managers is at 14,200 annual openings, compared with 5,100 annual openings for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling.

Facilities Managers has the edge on median pay

Facilities Managers is at $106,660, compared with $79,520 for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling.

Typical preparation differs.

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years Facilities Managers: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling has the edge on projected growth

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling is at 6% projected growth, compared with 4.6% projected growth for Facilities Managers.

60.8/ 100

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

71.8/ 100

Facilities Managers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling vs Facilities Managers

Dimension	Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling	Facilities Managers
Median pay (2025)	$79,520	$106,660
Pay percentile	71.5 percentile	87 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	6%	4.6%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	5,100	14,200
2025 employment	43,900	165,900
How you qualify	Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years	Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 4	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling brief Read Facilities Managers brief

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling vs Facilities Managers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

Facilities Managers

How the national numbers differ

Facilities Managers has the edge on annual openings

Facilities Managers has the edge on median pay

Typical preparation differs.

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling has the edge on projected growth

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling vs Facilities Managers

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Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling vs Administrative Services Managers

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